Blog

As a psychologist in Arizona, I often see children for an initial autism evaluation starting around 4-10 years of age. There is a great deal of research indicating that the earlier we can accurately diagnose autism, the better their outcome later in life.

If I can tell parents anything, I will tell you:

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

Over and over again, I hear parents saying, “I knew something just wasn’t right, but everyone kept saying that my child was just young, boys develop later, or they will grow out of it.”

Parents, you know your child better than anyone else. You see the best of them and the worst of them. Children sometimes act very differently in a pediatrician office for a brief 15-minute appointment than they do at home or at the park with their peers. If you have concerns, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician and tell him/her about all the behaviors or limitations you are seeing in child’s communication, interactions with peers or adults, or repetitive behaviors. Below is a list of warning signs to look out for in your baby or toddler:

Repetitive play with toys (e.g., lining objects up repeatedly, examining parts of a toy for long periods or from certain angles)

Unusual sensory interests (licking, sniffing, examining objects from the corner of the eye) in older children

Rigid adherence to specific routines or difficulty making transitions throughout the day

Aversive reactions to sounds, smell, taste, texture, lights, etc.

Remember that any one of the behaviors listed above is not necessarily cause for concern. Autism is diagnosed in children who show a combination of communication and social interaction delays as well as repetitive behaviors or restricted interests. If you have concerns about possible autism characteristics in your child, please contact me, and we can discuss if an evaluation is needed.

Most of my time is spent completing evaluations, which I love and am so passionate about. But I still reserve a little time in my schedule for therapy because it is so rewarding seeing children and families make progress. In therapy, I primarily work with children to help them overcome their fears and worries. I recently came across an app that I love called “MindShift.”Write here...